“Cramming in more history, culture and spectacular scenery than seems entirely reasonable for its size, the Western Balkans is one of Europe’s most intriguing regions.“
Lonely Planet
Croatia might be on your travel list. But have you ever thought of visiting Albania or Montenegro? Now we have you covered with this three-country multisport tour that visits Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania.
Visiting Albania, Montenegro, and Croatia
Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania are three of the countries on the Balkan peninsula, nestled between the sparkling Adriatic Sea and inland mountains. All are ex-communist countries, now democracies. Croatia and Montenegro were part of the previous Yugoslavia, which broke apart starting in 1991 when Croatia declared its independence. Albania, by contrast, has its own separate history of thousands of years and has been essentially an independent country since 1912.
While we might think of the three countries as similar due to their locations, they are also very different. Croatia is the most western and pro-European, with 86% of its citizens Catholics. Albania is almost half Muslim and has its own distinct identity including a separate culture, cuisine, music, and art. Montenegro is small at just 633,000 inhabitants and is sort of a melting pot with a mix of Montenegrins, Serbs, Croatians, Albanians, and others.
It is these differences that make our three-country tour so interesting. Yes, all the countries have beautiful beaches along the Adriatic, ancient towns, and rugged mountains. But each of the three presents a unique culture so that we eat different foods, hear different languages, and experience different cultures as we travel.
The Activities
Of course, we at Zephyr Adventures believe the best way to experience countries and cultures is to do so actively. On this tour we have a combination of hiking, biking, and kayaking. Our activities include:
- City walks in Dubrovnik, Croatia and in Tirana, Albania
- Hikes on Mount Srd above Dubrovnik, in Lovćen National Park in Montenegro, in Thet National Park in Albania, and up Rozafa Castle.
- Kayaking in the Adriatic among the Elafiti Islands of Croatia and on Skadar Lake in Montenegro
- Biking near the towns of Kodor in Montenegro and near Shkodër in Albania
The Cities We Visit
While visiting Albania, Croatia, and Montenegro, we have the chance to overnight and visit a number of great towns and cities. Our four overnight stops (two nights in each) are:
- Dubrovnik, Croatia: Dubrovnik is Croatia’s – and the entire region’s – top tourist destination. The city boasts whitewashed houses, an enchanting old town, and restored medieval city walls that one can walk on in a complete two-kilometer loop. All this overlooking the blue Adriatic Sea, speckled with green islands.
- Kotor, Montenegro: While Kotor might seem similar to Dubrovnik with its medieval center and city walls, the look and feel is very different. Kotor is much smaller and less polished, giving it a very authentic feel. Yet Kotor boasts nearby hiking, kayaking, and biking and buzzes with cafes and nightlife.
- Theth, Albania: Theth is a mountain town considered to be located in one of the most dramatic settings in Albania. The highlight of the area is Theth National Park, which is small and yet packed with natural wonders: high jagged mountains, lush valleys, verdant forests, and rushing streams. Theth had been inaccessible for years due to poor roads into the area but that has changed, so we are happy to be visiting now before it becomes too popular!
- Tirana, Albania: Tirana is the capital city of Albania and our final overnight of the tour. At half a million people, Tirana is the only large city we visit on this tour. The city has a communist past, with all the gray, nondescript buildings that system offered, but in the last three decades since communism was overthrown the city has revitalized and now offers a wild mix of ancient history, communist past, and modern vibrantly-colored buildings and clean plazas.
Our Local Guides
We are partnering with the same Croatian adventure travel company we use on our Croatia Multisport Adventure. In fact, it was the owner of the company who came to us, revealed he was enchanted with the culture and people of Montenegro, and proposed a multi-country tour. After months of communication to develop the exact routes, including a visit by our Croatian team to each of the above locations, this tour was born. Our Croatian guide Marko Kovac will be with us the entire way.
This three-country tour, visiting Albania, Montenegro, and Croatia, offers beautiful coasts and rugged mountains; hiking, biking, and kayaking; and a wide variety of cultures and foods. Plus, you get to add three countries to your list!
Details
- Dates: May 5 - 13, 2025
- Cost Per Person: $5,300
- Single Supplement: $900
- Activities: Hiking, Biking, Kayaking
- Guide(s): Allan Wright, Local Guide
Other Info
All bike and kayak rentals are included.
This tour is not available as a private tour in 2025 but will be in 2026.
Talk to Our Team: 888-758-8687
I Have QuestionsTrip Highlights
- Take a guided walking tour of the magical city of Dubrovnik on Croatia's coast
- Kayak in the amazing Bay of Kotor in Montenegro, past small villages and two churches built on islands
- Visit Lovcen National Park, considered Montenegro's soul, for excellent hiking and spectacular views
- Stay in the small village of Theth, which will soon be known as one of the best mountain towns in Europe
- Bike in the city of Shkodër, Albania, known for its ancient mix of religions and cultures
- Fly into Dubrovnik and out of Tirana and visit three countries on this nine-day tour!
DAY 1: DUBROVNIK, CROATIA
Arrive into Dubrovnik at any time of the day and take a taxi or Uber to our hotel. Because many folks will be arriving in the evening, we have nothing planned for this day. Those arriving early can meet up for an impromptu dinner if they wish. Our hotel is on the outskirts of Dubrovnik (to avoid the craziness of the pedestrian-only city) but it is an easy Uber ride into the center and is near a beautiful walking-only street with many restaurants and bars.
DAY 2: DUBROVNIK, CROATIA
We meet at 10:00 AM in the city of Dubrovnik on the coast of Croatia. With its whitewashed houses and perch looking out over the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful cities in the entire region. After introductions and an overview of the tour, we’ll head off through the city on foot. We’ll explore the narrow, winding streets of the ancient city, learning about the city’s history and current life. You’ll have free time for lunch on your own in the city. Note we do not walk along the city walls, a 2 KM walk that takes 90 minutes or more, so if you are interested in this you should do it before the tour or during our lunch break. We’ll then hike uphill to Mount Srd where the Museum of the Croatian War of Independence is located, for a discussion of the war that freed Croatia from what was then Yugoslavia. The hike is three hours total up and back at a modest pace. Back at the hotel with time to shower, we’ll head out again for dinner in town at local restaurant Pantarul.
DAY 3: KOTOR, MONTENEGRO
After breakfast we check out and depart Dubrovnik, heading south. We cross the border into Montenegro and reach the small town of Herceg Novi, where we get out and prepare to begin our kayaking. Our kayaking takes us on the stunning Bay of Kotor, which with its steep mountains on both sides looks like a Norwegian fjord. (Look it up on Google Maps to see the impressive shape.) Our kayaking is about four hours long and takes us past many small villages on the shores and past two islands with churches on them (St. George and Our Lady of the Rocks). We'll stop for a packed lunch en route. The kayaks are excellent tandems, so if you are less experienced you can go with someone who has more experience. Ultimately, we pull up right to our hotel on the Bay across from the city of Kotor. Dinner is a short walk down the water to a restaurant overlooking the bay.
DAY 4: KOTOR, MONTENEGRO
We’ll spend a second day and night in Montenegro. We’ll visit nearby Lovcen National Park where we can take a cable car up the mountain for a short hike near the top. We’ll visit Njegoš mausoleum, which has the interred remains of poet, philosopher, and prince Petar II Petrović-Njegoš and is considered the spiritual heart of Montenegro. We’ll switch activities, jumping on bicycles to cycle the back roads of the area. E-bikes are recommended as there are hills in the area. After our biking, we'll take the cable car down to Kotor. Nestled on a protected bay, Kotor is very different from its much larger and more touristed neighboring city of Dubrovnik, which makes it a very authentic place. We'll have time to wander the streets before dinner in the old town.
DAY 5: THETH, ALBANIA
This morning we'll pack up after breakfast and depart on the coastal road heading further south, with beautiful views of the Montenegran coast on our left. Our first stop is Lake Shkodra, the largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula, where we will jump again into kayaks, this time for some very different lake kayaking. We’ll paddle past an ancient fort, through lily pond groves, and stop at a seaside restaurant for a quick break. After our kayaking we will head to the Cermeniza Winery, tasting Montenegrin wines from this winery with 400 years of family history! We’ll also enjoy lunch with the grandson of the current winemaker. It is then onward into Albania and upward on a winding road to the town of Theth in Albania. Theth is a small town sprawled underneath the mountains of Theth National Park and is considered one of the most idyllic locations in Albania. It is a classic mountain town experience that seems like what major mountain hubs like Chamonix were probably like 100 years ago. Dinner tonight will be our first taste of Albanian food!
DAY 6: THETH, ALBANIA
We have a full day to explore one of the most beautiful national parks on the Balkan Peninsula: the Alps of Albania. At only 10 square miles, the park is tiny compared to many of the ones we are used to. However, it packs in the wonders, with jagged peaks, green valleys, and rushing streams. Our hike takes us slightly downhill along the main river through town and up a short but steep climb to Grunas Waterfall. We then continue on to the small gathering of buildings called Nderlysa, where we'll eat lunch at a guesthouse overlooking the river. After lunch we'll hike up to an impressive array of stone carved artistically by a rushing river and, for those looking for a few more miles, an out and back up to the Blue Eye of Theth.This hike will take up much of the day but we'll have a bit of time to shower and relax before dinner at a local restaurant in town.
DAY 7: SHKODËR, ALBANIA
After our second overnight in Theth, we'll pack up and depart back up and over the pass into the village. Our destination is the city of Shkodër, which is known for its eclectic mix of religions and cultures. We’ll do a short hike up to Rozafa Castle, which sits imposingly on a hill overlooking the city and two rivers. You’ll then have time for lunch on your own in this city, the fifth largest in Albania that has been inhabited since the fourth century BCE. Shkodër is perhaps the most historic city in the country, with a mix of architecture from various eras. In the afternoon, we’ll rent bikes and cycle with a local guide along the flat plains the surround the city, with stops in town and our destination the lakeside resort village of Shiroka. Dinner tonight will be downtown and we’ll overnight in Shkodër.
DAY 8: TIRANA, ALBANIA
We'll then continue south, with our next destination being Krujë. Krujë was a major town of the Albani, the original tribe from the area. It was Albania's first capital during the middle ages and was home to the leader who fought off the Ottoman Empire for 25 years during the 1400s. In short, lots of history. We'll wander through the ancient bazaar, which is a great place to purchase gifts, and climb the path up to Krujë Castle above the town. Finally, we arrive in Tirana in time for lunch on your own, to check into our hotel, and for a guided walking tour of the city, learning more about the city and country's ancient past, overthrow of communist rule, and recent political, economic, and cultural conditions. We will wrap up with a final farewell dinner at a delicious and very local restaurant most tourists will never find.
DAY 9: DEPARTURE
You are free to go your own way, either to the airport to catch a flight home or perhaps staying longer in this enchanting region.
Book this TourTrip Accommodations
- Dubrovnik (Nights 1 & 2): Hotel Kazbek: The Hotel Kazbek is a five-star hotel situated across the street from one of the Dubrovnik harbors. It has a rooftop pool, a bar, and a made-to-order breakfast. Plus, it is located near a fun pedestrian-only street ideal for its nightlife.
- Kotor (Nights 3 & 4): Hotel Libertas: The Hotel Libertas is located across the bay from the small city of Kotor. Situated right on the water, many of its rooms overlook the Bay and it has its own lounging pier that is perfect for a jump into the water or a drink before dinner. If that doesn't suit your style, there is also a large outdoor swimming pool on the second floor balcony. This four-star hotel gets a 4.9 rating on Google out of five.
- Thet (Nights 5 & 6): Hotel Jezerca: The Hotel Jezerca is brand new, opened in 2024. The four-star hotel has excellent rooms with modern comforts and balconies that look out onto the surrounding mountains.The Jezerca is located right on the main street of the village of Theth, the mountainous heart of Albania.
- Shkodër (Night 7): Hotel Mozart: The Mozart is a four-star hotel located in the heart of the town, just steps from the big Cathedral and the main pedestrian-only walking street. It is the only hotel on our trip with a gym and offers full modern comforts, including an extensive breakfast buffet.
- Tirana (Night 8): Hotel Central Inn: It is nice to find a four-star hotel with a five-star rating on Trip Advisor located so close to the downtown Skanderbeg Square in the capital city of Tirana and yet without a tourist feel. The Central Inn's rooms are small, given the location, but of very high quality with modern comforts.
Arrival & Departure
We fly into the airport in Dubrovnik, Croatia and out of the airport in Tirana, Albania. Both are major regional airports. Dubrovnik only has one direct flight from the USA (from Newark) while Tirana has none, so you will definitely be connecting somewhere. However, both airports have excellent connections throughout Europe so you should have plenty of choices at reasonable fares. Arriving into Dubrovnik, the easiest way to get to our hotel is simply to use Uber. Departing from Tirana, our hotel will arrange an inexpensive taxi for you.
What's Included?
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- You will have one, two, or three Zephyr guides - always one local - depending on the group size.
- Our trip prices are based on double occupancy. If you are coming on a trip solo, you have two options: 1) Pay the single supplement to receive your own room. 2) Ask us to try to find you a roommate of the same gender to share a room with; if we are not successful you will be charged the single supplement and receive your own room.
- All of your dinners and breakfasts are included as well as at least two lunches. Gratuity for these meals is also included. In general, we leave lunches open so that you have time to explore and enjoy the local flavors en route.
- All park entrances and permits are included. Kayak and bike rental is also included.
- NOT INCLUDED Beverages, desserts, lunches, gratuities to your guides, personal expenses and travel to and from the destination.
Weather
July and August can be very hot for an active tour, with high temperatures usually in the upper 80s or hotter. Late June and early September can still be fairly hot. April, May, the first half of June, the second half of September, and October are all excellent times to travel in the region. This is also when the crowds in places like Dubrovnik are lower than in peak summer season.
Extending Your Stay
We highly suggest you arrive to Europe at least one day before the tour starts, to account for any travel delays and to give yourself time to adjust to the overnight flight if you are coming from North America. Staying an extra night in Dubrovnik is a good option, as it is a charming city. If you want to extend your vacation, we are really only hitting a small part of each of the three countries. But with plane flights, it is easy to add any other European destination to this trip.
Changes to Your Itinerary
While everything under “What is Included” will remain the same, the actual restaurants, hotels, and activities listed in our itineraries are subject to modifications. Changes that are out of our control are common – a restaurant closes or loses its awesome chef, a winery changes its visiting hours, a hotel gets remodeled, a road or trail undergoes construction. You are entrusting us to create an outstanding vacation for you and so it is possible we may take the liberty of making necessary changes (even at the last minute, during the guides’ scout trip) to the itinerary that will improve your overall trip experience. If there is any one experience that is going to make or break your trip, please discuss this with us in advance! We will attempt to keep our website itinerary as current as possible and communicate any major changes with you in the weeks prior to the tour.
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